Summer Stew

I had tomatoes, zucchini, and split peas that needed eating, so I made some stew.
Bring 2 cups salted water to boil, add 1/2 cup yellow split peas, reduce to low and simmer for about 20 minutes (until just almost done) and drain.
Chop up a bunch of tomato, half a zucchini, a bunch of kielbasa, two cloves of garlic, and a hot pepper.
Fry the garlic and hot pepper in some olive oil and butter for a minute or so, then add the rest of the mess (veg and sausage). Cook uncovered for five minutes, then cover, throw in a splash (1/4 cup?) of water and the lentils and reduce to medium low.
Cook for five minutes more, then toss in a heaped teaspoon of pickled capers (well drained, none of that pickle juice!) and cook for another five minutes or so. Serve with cracked black pepper.





I mean, you could have cooked the peas in the vegetable juices but then everything would taste like split peas. This way, zucchini still tastes like zucchini and tomatoes like tomatoes.